Your Top 10 Tips for getting started

1. Check out the libraries

You have a variety of different study environments to choose from – silent, quiet or bookable rooms for group work. There are five sites with library facilities and you can use all of them; Western Bank Library, the Information Commons and The Diamond are all on campus. The Health Sciences Library has facilities at the Royal Hallamshire and Northern General Hospital. Find your favourite!

2. Remember your UCard and PIN

3. Get online, find books and more

Your resource list is a great place to get started, but you will want to read more widely. You can search our collections using StarPlus, the library catalogue. All our e-resources can be accessed anywhere, any time.

4. Find it, borrow it

Find the books you need from the shelves and use our self-service machines to borrow and return books at any Library site. It doesn’t matter where you borrowed them from. And we don’t fine for overdue books - loaned items are automatically renewed for you until someone else requests them. It’s important that you do your bit and return your books when requested.

5. Can’t find it, request it

If you can’t find the item you want on the shelves, request it online using StarPlus and we’ll let you know as soon as it’s available. If we don’t have what you need, you can use our Recommendation Form or our InterLibrary Request Service.

6. Manage your Library Account

Your Library Account is where you can view details of the items you have borrowed, and whether they have been requested by others. Choose "StarPlus - Library Catalogue option in MUSE" followed by “myLibrary Account”. We’ll send you a borrower statement email every week.

7. Become a more effective researcher

The Library offers bookable information and digital literacy workshops, online tutorials and in course teaching. This will help improve your grades and prepare you for your future career. We cover everything from information discovery to critical thinking and can also give advice on referencing.

8. Study healthily and take a break

When studying it’s important that you take a break from time to time. If you need to leave your learning space for more than a few minutes, use a Study Break Pass to make it clear to others when you’ll be back. Available from all libraries.

9. Get to know your librarian

We have a specialist librarian for every subject area. You can book one-to-ones to discuss how you might research an assignment or prepare for a project. We’ll see you soon as we’ll be delivering workshops and lectures as part of your course.